Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 12, 2011 19:17:36 GMT -5
"It is far from what I believe, but it is all that is being presented as of late. I believed he was a kind, talented man. There was the beginnings of a connection and I was caught unaware at the feelings that developed. But he claims he remained unaffected and only wished for a wife to fill a maternal role, and yet he isn't out looking for another to fill the role. Forgive me for not being able to sort out exactly which man is the true Mr. Blackwood." Annabelle curtsied to Lady Cara and turned toward the door, more confused now than when she'd arrived.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 12, 2011 19:30:02 GMT -5
Cara was shocked at this sudden outpouring of details, and didn't offer another word. She had meant to get an idea of what was going on, and perhaps to tell the woman personally that she wasn't welcome, so there would be no further unexpected visits. It took time for her to recover herself from hearing these things he knew so little about.
"Marriage is about connections, you know," she pointed out. "And anybody who's good ton knows that words mean nothing." She didn't want to argue anymore. She didn't have answers for what Alasdair was feeling or thinking. All she knew was that he had been affected by whatever it was he'd liked about Annabelle, and at the end of it all, he'd regressed to behavior unseen in nearly a year.
Rather than allow the nonsensical argument to continue, Cara rang the bell pull. "See Miss Hennessy safely to her carriage," she said.
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 12, 2011 22:45:54 GMT -5
Just before Annabelle walked through the door she turned her head and looked sadly at Lady Cara. "I have traded some of the best connections in the Ton for happiness and a foolish chance at love. That is why I chose to live in the country and that is why I would not marry. I would rather be happy outside the rules of society then miserable within." She turned and followed the servant through the door.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 12, 2011 23:06:23 GMT -5
Annabelle was a fool, and Cara was suddenly glad that things had soured, no matter the misery that Alasdair was in. He would heal, and hopefully he would do so quickly, and things could be as they were. She could only imagine the kinds of suitors who would accept her with such a woman leading her. She would simply have to coax her mother into making a reappearance to sponsor her.
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 1:09:35 GMT -5
Annabelle tried again to push the whole ordeal out of her mind. She did not have the time or luxury to be able to flee the social obligations and lick her wounds in private solitude of the country immediately this time. If she managed to secure an offer for Elizabeth by the end of season however, she would be able to retire from society for good and never have to worry about running into Alasdair or those associated with him. She dreaded the thought of having to return the following season and constantly attend the same events as Lady Cara and possibly The Duchess or Mr. Blackwood himself. It was this fear that propelled her into action for her sister and made her attend every possible event when she would have wished to be anywhere else.
She didn't discuss the outcome of her visit to Hardt Manor with her sister no matter how much the younger girl probed. The topic was closed, and Annabelle completely ignored any mention of the family. It wasn't until over a week later that Elizabeth finally heard the tidbits that caused her to spring into action.
Elizabeth had just finished a country dance with Viscount Breckenridge, a highly desirable potential suitor, and spotted Annabelle speaking with Lady Osbaldestone. Not wanting to be forced to speak with the Lady that was rumored to cause nightmares, Elizabeth dismissed her partner a respectable distance away and proceeded to join a group of friends a short distance from the matrons, Annabelle nodding her approval. Elizabeth's interest was caught by the name that passed from Lady Osbaldestone's lips. Mr. Blackwood.
Unable to resist, she excused herself from the group and slowly approached, keeping out of Annabelle's direct line of sight as her sister addressed the older matron. "I fear you are mistaken. Mr. Blackwood has no immediate intentions to marry anyone, least of all me. I assure you that when you saw us together last in the park it was just a kindness bore out of obligation. I haven't even spoken to him in near a fortnight."
The conversation was cut short when Miss Annabelle glanced up to check on Elizabeth and saw her within hearing distance. Although Elizabeth hadn't heard anything new, what she did hear was enough to remind her of the past events of their short encounter with Mr. Blackwood. She wanted Annabelle to be happy, and had finally realized a way that might just be possible.
Elizabeth shocked her father by appearing in his study the next morning hours before she would have normally woken. She surprised him again with the details of the story concerning Mr. Blackwood and how he had come to be acquainted with their family. Mr Hennessy listened, asked many questions of his youngest daughter, and filled the remainder of the early morning hours with interviews of a few of his most trusted staff. When all was confirmed, Gabriel headed to Hardt Manor without so much as a word to his elder daughter.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 13, 2011 1:30:45 GMT -5
Alasdair braced his hands against the desk in his study as the butler stood just inside the room, waiting silently for a decision. He'd banned women from the house, but was now wishing he'd given an edict against the Hennessys as well. Her father was here, and Alasdair told himself that he could not be sued for breach of contract, as there had been no contract, verbal or otherwise. Mr. Hennessy himself had seen to that.
"Send him in," he said at last. He crossed to the sidebar and set out two glasses, filling them each from a delicate glass decanter. He needed this to brace himself for whatever would come. He emptied his own glass, then refilled it.
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 1:45:26 GMT -5
"Good morning Mr. Blackwood." Mr. Hennessy was escorted into the study and the doors were shut quietly behind him. The elder man held himself stiffly, not betraying the reason for his visit with his expressionless face. He hadn't bothered to change for the occasion, but was still dressed neatly in a dark grey suit. He strode smoothly farther into the room to join Mr. Blackwood.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 13, 2011 1:52:01 GMT -5
Alasdair was not dressed for this unexpected meeting with Mr. Hennessy. He was wrapped in one of his favorite jackets, a deep purple nearing black which seemed all the more violet for the pure black of the band around his arm. "Good morning," he said, without further comment for the moment.
He gestured for Mr. Hennessy to take a seat near the fireplace, and despite his desire to simply leave, he took the other, leaving the drinks he'd poured between them.
"Am I correct in assuming you'll find no offense in bypassing the pleasantries?" he asked. "There is truly no need to pretend ignorance, is there?"
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 2:08:04 GMT -5
Mr. Hennessy nodded his agreement. "Yes, I believe we have some unfinished business to attend to. When last we spoke you gave permission to seek you out here." Mr. Hennessy paused to take up the glass of fine liquid and take a swallow. He knew this was bound to be an interesting conversation and was prepared to make the most of it. "I thought you might wish to know that I have received word from my man of business and there are no financial hurdles that might trouble the wedding."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 13, 2011 2:14:38 GMT -5
That was no surprise at all to Alasdair, though he supposed the man must not be close to his daughters if his first concern at this point was finances. "I'm afraid there's a greater hurdle," he said, picking up his own glass. "Miss Hennessy refused me, in no uncertain terms. Marriage was not at all on her mind when last we spoke."
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 2:32:14 GMT -5
Gabriel was surprised by Mr. Blackwood's account of Annabelle outright refusing him, but his daughter had been so quiet about the encounter that anything was possible. "Ah, yes. It has come to my attention that I was not operating with full grasp of the situation when I stated that condition. Regardless of what words passed between the two of you during that exchange, my daughter will marry you. I have no doubt of that. She is still under my control and will obey my wishes in this matter."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 13, 2011 2:37:07 GMT -5
Alasdair blinked, more than a little surprised at this turn of events. "May I ask what has brought about this change of heart?" he asked. The man had barely tolerated him when they'd first met, and had hinged everything on Annabelle's willingness. Annabelle, who had wanted an affair with no commitment. What had happened?
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
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Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 2:51:33 GMT -5
Gabriel took another drink and sat up even straighter in his chair before piercing Mr. Blackwood with his intense dark brown stare. He would not be deterred, believing marriage would be the best solution to this potential disaster. "As I said, I did not receive all the information I needed to properly assess the situation when you approached me. It has recently come to my attention that you were not completely forthright concerning the events of your acquaintance with my daughter prior to my arrival in town. I have received details from my staff that confirm a wedding is required."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 13, 2011 2:59:17 GMT -5
Again, Alasdair blinked, his thoughts turning toward that acquaintance, toward the hazy memories following that sharp hoof to his chest. Yes, he recalled his shock at Annabelle's nursing, and that she'd thought nothing of summoning servants to assist, though none had stayed to chaperone. His gaze dropped in a moment of thought before lifting again to seek Mr. Hennessy's. "I will contact my solicitor this morning to have the papers drawn up," he said. And he would speak to Cara, then Adair, later in the afternoon.
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Annabelle Hennessy
Ravenclaw`
Prefect 7th Year
Hate me if you want to, Love me if you can.
Posts: 2,512
|
Post by Annabelle Hennessy on Jun 13, 2011 3:07:02 GMT -5
Gabriel nodded his agreement. "I believe it would be best for all involved if the appearance of a normal engagement where made, if possible. I have yet to approach Annabelle concerning this manner and will do so upon returning home. Once she is in understanding, I will deliver a draft announcement for your approval to be placed in tomorrow's paper, unless there are any objections?"
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